Synchronized stock control device



Aug. 17, 1954 BE. PREVOYST 2,686,462 SYNCHRONIZED STOCK CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l A INVENTOR- $219.3. W

ATTORJVEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SYNCHRONIZED STOCK CONTROL DEVICE Application April 24, 1951, Serial No. 222,650

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to the control of stock or pulp in paper making machines of the Fourdrinier and other types such as the Cylinder machine. In such machines, the paper stock starts with a very high percentage of water and is passed through machines such as beaters, Hollanders, and finally Jordan engines, known as refining engines, and from there is delivered to a collecting trough or head box from which it goes on to an endless wire screen belt known as a wire, squeeze rolls, over suction boxes, endless felt belt and other parts, and between couch rolls or over a couch roll until most of the water, or liquid, has been extracted. From the couch, it passes in the form of a sheet which holds together and then it may go over stretch rolls and through press rolls so that it can be rolled or otherwise manipulated.

As such machines produce many thousand yards of paper from paper stock and in many cases operate continuously for twenty-four hours a day every day, and as the resulting paper must be of constant and uniform consistency, according to the kind of stock, chemicals used, weight by the yard, and other conditions, it is vital that the consistency of the stock must be controlled, particularly as it passes through the Jordan engine, and while the water is being removed as it travels along.

In patent to De Mers, No. 2,051,202, the pressure on the stock is controlled by means of a stress sensitive element which controls a motor for moving an element such as a Jordan plug axially with reference to a stationary shell, or a beater roll with reference to a bed plate.

Loman in his Patent No. 1,686,217 shows a method of controlling the pressure by means of liquid or fluid pressure in place of an electric or other type of motor to move the plug. In both cases the consistency of the stock is regulated or is intended to be regulated, there being in each case certain dials within the observation of the operator, some of such dials being of the arm and pencil type whereby a graph is marked on a disk, and so that the operator can tell the variations in the temperature and pressure at different times.

In my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 103,229, I provide for automatically taking up the wear on certain parts to help keep the pressure uniform in the Jordan engine and in the De Mers and Lornan devices provision is made for regulating the pressure by automatic devices which are intended to keep the pressure in the Jordan uniform by moving the plug in and out by means of an electric motor or pneumatic or hydraulic motor.

The removal of water from the stock on the wire is generally accomplished by the use of suction boxes over which the stock on the wire or endless felt passes, each box being connected with a vacuum pipe or leg connected with suit-- able apparatus for sucking the water out of the stock.

The device of this application can preferably be used in connection with the device shown in my said application and with a Jordan plug pres sure regulating system which works automatically and by air pressure operating through axial pressure air motors.

It preferably includes one controller and recorder for the plug pressure motor and a sec- 0nd controller and recorder for the motor of the Jordan stock outlet valve, but the recorder feature can be omitted in both and in a simplified construction for the operation of the Jordan outlet valve, even the controller can be omitted.

When the stock, particularly at the couch roll happens to be finer than is desired, the suction reading for the vacuum leg increases because the liquid is harder to draw out of the stock. I connect this vacuum leg or exhaust pipe of the couch roll by means of a tube or pipe, preferably, with a bellows converter arrangement in which the sub-atmospheric vacuum or suction is converted to pneumatic pressure to and through a tube or pipe from the bellows converter to an air pressure controlled motor operating a valve in the outlet of a Jordan engine. This air pressure pipe is preferably connected. with the main air pressure supply which is also used through a pneumatic axial pressure controlled motor for plug pressure control. This pressure pipe from the bellows control converter extends to an air pressure controlled motor which controls the outlet valve from the Jordan, whereby a higher suction reading in the vacuum leg is converted into lower pressure in such Jordan outlet control motor, thereby opening the valve more and permitting the stock to pass through the Jordan faster, thereby giving it less treatment and leaving it coarser than usual. This stock when reaching the suction couch roll permits the liquid to sucked out quicker than heretofore thereby changing the vacuum reading closer to the required reading and so on until normal. Likewise in reverse it works the opposite way until the required reading again obtained.

In like manner, when the stock at thecouch roll becomes coarser than is desirable, less suction is needed to draw the liquid from the stock and. the suction reading for the vacuum leg is converted into higher pressure in the Jordan outlet control motor, thereby allowing pneumatic pressure against a diaphragm, working against a spring or the resistance of an elastic diaphragm to close the outlet valve, more or less, thereby holding back the stock in the Jordan and allowing it to be treated longer and made finer and more compact.

Thereby the consistency of the paper is more uniform and is kept uniform. Preferably there is a dial gauge of the arm and pencil type within a few feet of the operators as is now the case, but instead of the operator watching the gauge and regulating the flow of stock by hand, this is thus done automatically.

By using a gauge with two arms, of a known type, the desired pressure can be set and maintained.

However, although the various controls spoken of above are desirable, and I find the use of a bellows converter with a pneumatic suction pipe from the couch roll suction leg to move a baffle plate towards and away from an air bleeding jet nozzle to control a relay valve between the main air line and a branch to an axial pressure air motor for the Jordan outlet valve is highly desirable in practice, I can connect the vacuum leg of one or more couch rolls directly with an air pressure motor for the Jordan outlet valve, which motor is of the diaphragm type, whereby where the spring action of the diaphragm is reversed, higher suction pressure in the vacuum leg will tend to pull open the outlet valve, and lower pressure will tend to close it. Thi is shown and described in Fig. 4.

High vacuum tends to open and low vacuum to close the Jordan outlet valve.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View of a Jordan engine with my preferred pneumatic plug pressure control device for moving the plug in and out in accordance with the pressure of the stock, associated with my preferred type of controller and recorder means to operate the valve in the outlet of the Jordan responsive to the vacuum pressure in a couch roll which also houses a bellows converter mechanism for converting vacuum or suction in the suction leg of a couch roll to compressed air pressure which may be as great as desired to control the Jordan outlet valve.

Intermediate mechanism such as Fourdrinier wire, felts and suction boxes are omitted to show a controller and recorder device which preferably is located near the last suction couch roll and is associated with it.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, omitting the plug pressure control device.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a Jordan engine outlet valve and valve motor such as used in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified Jordan outlet valve and motor construction and connection to the couch roll. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangements of the means housed in the controller and recorder means shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5A is a diagram showing a liquid fluid such as water in a pipe interposed between a diaphragm near the couch roll and the Jordan outlet valve as part of such valve controlling means.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents the parts of a paper making machine, including particularly a Jordan engine .3 comprising the shell I, plug 2,

all)

carried by a shaft 3, driven by any suitable motive power, with suitable bearings 9 which permit the plug to be moved axially either by hand or automatically or by both, to regulate the distance between the plug bars and the shell knives in accordance with the requirements of the stock.

There is a stock inlet 4 into the Jordan and an outlet 5, and in the outlet is an outlet valve l3 which heretofore has been controlled by hand, but in this device the valve I3 is preferably controlled by a pneumatic motor 14, responsive to pressure through the pneumatic power line l2.

D represents a couch roll of the type which is perforated and in which is a suction box S connected in a well known way with a vacuum leg E which is connected to suitable vacuum producing mechanism, also of a well known type.

I0 is a vacuum pressure gauge which indicates the vacuum pressure in the suction box S of the couch roll. II is a suction pipe connection from the vacuum leg E to a controll r and recorder C which, in the preferred construction, has suitable gauges, shown in Fig. 5, and a bellows converter and baffle controller and other controlling parts, by means of which the suction pressure in the vacuum leg E operates the relay valve R in one of the main air supply lines 24 from which extends a pneumatic powerline l2 to an air, or pneumatic, motor M which control the outlet valve i3.

The outlet valve control assembly B includes a pneumatic motor such as M of the type shown in Fig. 3 and includes an elastic diaphragm is in casing I5 responsive to pressure in pneumatic power line or air pressure pipe 12. Diaphragm 15 by a valve rod i I l attached to plate P opens or tends to open and closes or tend to close the stock outlet valve 13 in stock outlet 5.

There is a bearing hole IQ for valve rod I H in the partition is which makes chamber 25 watertight but allows rod H! to slide through it. H1 is a pressure spring between a bearing 26 for rod 1H andacollar i IS on rod Hi.

As shown in Fig. 4, in place of the controller and recorder C, a reverse action outlet valve assembly N connected directly to suction box S by an air suction pipe l0! may be used.

When and if the stock passing over the couch roll D is free or less refined than desired, the water is more easily sucked out by the suction box S and the sub-atmospheric pressure is less than desired, the outlet valve 13 tends to close and to keep the stock in the Jordan longer so that it will be more refined. When this stock reaches the couch roll, it requires more suction in leg E to suck out the water and this means increase in pressure which through air suction pipe H, controller C, .air pressure pipe i2 and pneumatic motor M causes valve i3 to reopen enough to regulate the freeness or consistency of the stock as it leaves the couch roll D. This process allows the stock, as it leaves the couch roll, to be more consistent and automatically regulates the relation between the stock delivered through the Jordan engine outlet to the head box, wire, felt, etc. to form the sheet which leaves the couch roll.

In the preferred arrangement, such as shown in Fig. 1, there is a plug pressure control device A, similar to the devices shown in the De Mers and Loman patents, except that it is automatic and the medium or motor fluid for operating the plug is pneumatic instead of liquid as with Loman or electric as shown by De Mers.

,Air supply line I! enters a casing US for an air pressure motor G similar to casing I5 of pneumatic motor I l and works against a diaphragm similar to diaphragm l5 which moves a member similar to plate P which by any suitable mechanical devices moves the plug 2, its shaft 3 and bearings 8 and i9 axially as the pressure between the plug bars and shell knives increases or diminishes and the distance therefore diminishes or increases.

This motor G is quite similar to the motor is (shown in Fig. 3) as both are of the pneumatic type, preferably diaphragm, and it is used to move the plug 2 and shaft in and out as pressure between the plug and shell is built up or reduced. The variations of this pressure are transmitted through a pressure sensitive element 2!, which may be of the mercury or any other known type, to one controller and recorder A. The plug pressure control device, or controller and recorder A by means of a Bourdon tube, moves a bracket such as 80 and a baiiie plate such as 88 towards and away from an air bleeding jet nozzle such as 89 which controls a relay valve such as R, not shown, between a main air supply pipe at and supply line ll to the plug pressure motor G for the plug 2. The motor G is therefore responsive to the varying pressure indicated by the pressure sensitive element 2!. Preferably a suitable conduit 22 connects a dial (not shown) on controller and recorder C with stock outlet 5 to indicate the pressure therein.

An advantage of pneumatic control for the plug through the device A is that one main air pressure supply line 2? can be used, one branch 29 entering the controller and recorder device -A and the other branch 24 entering the controller and recorder device C.

The principal feature of this device is converting vacuum pressure in the vacuum leg E into air pressure in a motor I l in an outlet valve control assembly such as shown at B in Fig. 3, or N in Fig. l. The main idea is to have this air control of such a character that the pressure in the outlet valve control assembly will change with and be in reverse of or correspond with that in the suction leg Preferably this change is made inside the controller and recorder C.

The controller and recorder C, as shown, includes a casing it, which supports a dial assembly H and a bellows converter F for converting vacuum or suction pressure from the suction leg E through an air suction pipe H to corresponding but reversed expanding pressure. This is done by means of bellows converter E, which as shown, is made up of a casing 50, av sealed vacuum chamber 52 with a bellows device 82 with a movable end closure plate M from which extends a movable rod 85 engaging and pivoted to one end of hell crank lever 86 pivoted at 5! to casing Ell. The other end of bell crank lever 86 is connected to an arm 8! which is pivoted at 9! to a rocking bracket 8d medially pivoted at 92 to the casing 76 of controller and recorder C in such a way that the arm 8'! when caused to move by variation in vacuum pressure in con- .verter F will move one arm of bracket 86 on its pivot 92 so that it will move another pen arm 84 fixed to it at 92 to show pressure.

The vacuum leg E is a sensitive member because the sub-atmospheric pressure in it varies with the character of the stock and it, through bellows converter F, moves a baiiie 88 to and from the bleeding jet from nozzle 89 which through pipe ii controls air from main air supply pipe 24 through pipe E2 to the axial air pressure di- '6 aphragm motor M of assembly B shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The bracket is of the rocker type pivoted at 92 with arm 87 pivoted at 9! to one of its arms 91 while its other arm 93 has a lip which extends under the end of a bafile plate 88 pivoted at 98 directly above an air bleeding jet nozzle 89. As shown, there is a revoluble back plate as and a fixed arm 83 capable of adjustment thereon or therewith. Bafflle plate 88 is mounted in a position to cooperate with the nozzle #59 which normally remains fixed after it is adjusted and is supplied with air from a pipe H from relay valve R, which in turn is supplied with air from branch 24 of main air supply line 21. The air supplied to the nozzle escapes through it in amounts determined by the position of the bafiie 38 with the result that as the bafiie approaches the nozzle 89, the back pressure in the pipe II will increase and as the baffle moves away from the nozzle the back pressure in the pipe H will decrease. The pipe H communicates through a by-pass tube ill and through an orifice it from main air pressure supply pipe 2% and with the capsular diaphragm T5 of the relay valve R.

As the back pressure increases in the pipe H, the capsular diaphragm 75 will move its valve element 74 to decrease the amount of compressed air from the supply pipe 24 and its branch pipe l2 leadin to the diaphragm motor H3 at the top of the valve l3 in outlet 5.

The decrease in the above-mentioned back pressure in the pipe ll will affect the capsular diaphragm 15 to move the ball valve element 74 to increase the application of compressed air to the motor i l at the top of valve assembly B through pressure pipe I2.

As shown, the outlet valve control assembly B includes a spring l I! and rod l l i which carries a closure H2 for the opening in the valve seat H3 in the outlet 5 of the Jordan.

The main air supply enters the controller and goes to the air relay valve B through air supply line 24. In the relay valve, the air supply divides. A small part passes through orifice l3 and feeds nozzle 89 through nozzle air line H. The main flow of air goes to the outlet valve control motor Id of assembly B through relay valve R and supply line [2.

Let us assume that the pen arm 84 and fixed arm, or pointer 83 are together at the control point, and the output pressure, to maintain this equilibrium, is 10 p. s. i. This means that the clearance between baffle 88 and nozzle 89 is small enough to restrict the amount of air escaping from nozzle 89 thereby creating a back pressure,

through air line H, to the capsular chamber iii, of air relay valve B. This back pressure raises the ball M in the relay valve and throttles the air supply to diaphragm valve motor i l at just 40 p. s. 1.

If the vacuum, transmitted through air suction pipe ll to the bellows device 62 of converter F is decreased, the bellows will expand, moving rod to the right. This movement, transmitted through lever 86, arm 81 and bracket 853, causes the pen arm 84 to move upward and away from the set pointer 83. This pen movement raises the bafile 88 off the nozzle 89. The increased clearance between baffie and nozzle permits more air to escape from the nozzle, thereby reducing the back pressure in the capsular chamber 15 of relay valve R. This reduction in back pressure lowers the ball 74 in the relay valve R, thereby increasing the air supply to diaphragm valve 7 motor l4. increased pressure on the diaphragm l for valve l3 tends to close it, reducing the amount of stock which is permitted to flow through it.

By reverse action, if the vacuum, transmitted through vacuum line H to bellows or vacuum chamber 62 is increased, the bellows will compress, moving rod85 to the left. This movement, transmitted through lever 86,arm 81, and bracket 80 causes the pen arm '84 to move back towards set pointer 83. This pen movement lowers the :bafiie 88 on nozzle 89. The decreased clearance between bafile and nozzle restricts the amount of air escaping from the nozzle and thereby increases the back pressure in the capsular chamber 150i relay valve R. This increase in back pressure raises the ball 14 in the relay valve, thereby decreasing the air supply to diaphragm valve motor 14. This decrease in pressure on the diaphragm valve motor tends to open valve I3, increasing the amount of stock which is permitted to vflow through it.

In Fig. 2, the pneumatic plug pressure control device A with its casing 1 l6 and motor G are omitted, together with supply line H, connection 20, and sensitive element 2i, but leaving the plug 2, bearing 9, shaft 3, the usual hand wheel I82 and bearing T9.

The plug pressure control device might be an independent arrangement but the stock is better controlled by pneumatic pressure automatically controlled in the shell and in its outlet as described by automatically regulating the pressure of the stock in the Jordan and also the quantity delivered through its outlet in accordance with its consistency at the suction couch roll, as both cooperate.

By using axial pressure air motors, preferably of the diaphragm type with suitable relay valves and bafile bleeder jets, there are no sudden stops and the air motors take up any sudden shocks due to irregular stock, lumps or metal or breaks.

There can be no short circuits or escaping hot steam and the air bleeders are some help to ventilation.

In some cases, I can connect the vacuum leg of the suction couch roll directly with the stock outlet valve motor assembly, omitting entirely the plug pressure control devices A and the controller and recorder C as shown in Fig. 4.

The outlet valve control assembly N, Fig. 4., is the same as outlet valve control assembly B, shown in .Fig. 3, except that valve rod plate P is above diaphragm i5, instead of under. Also, the spring I H is below the water tight partition i8 and above the collar 99, this being the reverse of that shown in Fig. 3.

Therefore, an increase in suction in the vacuum leg E, transmitted through air suction pipe 10!, will draw diaphragm up with valve rod HI against a spring I ll, between watertight partition [8 and collar 99, thereby moving closure 2 l2 away vfrom seat 2l3 and allowing more stock to pass through the outlet valve.

As shown in Fig. 5A, a diaphragm 2i'5 sealed in a casing 2M can be interposed in air suction pipe HH and a liquid fluid such as water W can be used as a medium between diaphragm 215 and [5 for operating outlet valve l3.

I claim:

1. The combination in a paper making machine, including a couch roll provided with a suction box and a vacuum leg connecting it with suction producing means, and a Jordan engine including a shell with a stock inlet and a stock 'outlet,-a"plu'g inside the shell carried by a shaft both revoluble by one motor and axially movable by an axial air pressure motor together withpressure sensitive means connected with the large end of the shell near the stock outlet and pneumatically operative mechanism connected to and controlled by the pressure sensitive member :and including one controller and recorder means and means to operate the'axial pressure motor for'the plug and shaft in and out responsive to the stock pressure in the Jordan; of a valve in the Jordan stock outlet outside the pressure sensitive memher and controlled by an axial air pressure motor, the pressure in which is regulated by pneumatically operative mechanism which is part of a second controller'and recorder means and a vacuurn pipe from such controller and recorder means to the vacuum leg from the couch .roll suction box, whereby the stock outlet valve will be opened -more or less in accordance with high vacuum and low vacuum in the couch roll suction box and the shaft and plug will be moved axially in and out as the stock pressure in the Jordan engine decreases and increases.

2. The combination in a paper making machine, including a couch roll provided with a sucticn box and a vacuum leg connecting it with suction producing means, and a Jordan engine including a shell with a stock inlet and a stock outlet from the large end, a plug inside the shell carried by a shaft, the plug and shaft both revoluble by one motor and axially movable by an axial air pressure motor, together with pressure sensitive means connected with the large end of the shell near the stock outlet and pneumatically operative mechanism connected to and controlled by the pressure sensitive member and including one controller and recorder means and means to operate the axial pressure motor for the plug and shaft to move them in and out responsive tothe stock pressure in the Jordan; of a valve in the Jordan stock outlet outside the pressure ensitive member and controlled by an axial air pressure motor, the pressure in which is regulated by an air pipe to pneumatically operative mechanism which is part of a second controller and recorder means and a vacuum pipe from such controller and recorder means to the vacuum le from the couch roll suction box whereby the stock outlet valve will be opened more or less in accordance with high vacuum and low vacuum in the couch roll suction box and the shaft and the plu will be moved axially in and out as the stock pressure in the Jordan engine decreases and increases.

3. The combination in a paper making machine, including a couch roll provided with a suction box and a vacuum leg connecting it with suction producing means, and a Jordan engine including a. shell with a stock inlet and a stock outlet from the large end, a plug inside the shell carried by a shaft, the plug and shaft both revoluble by one motor and axially movable by an axial air pressure motor, together with pressure sensitive means connected with the large end of the shell near the stock outlet and pneumatically operative mechanism connected to and controlled by the pressure sensitive member and including one controller and recorder means and means to operate the axial air pressure motor for the plug and shaft to move them in and out responsive to the stock pressure in the Jordan; of a valve in the Jordan stock outlet outside the pressure sensitive member and controlled by an axial air pressure motor, the pressure in which-is regulated by an air pipe from the couch roll suction box whereby the stock outlet valve will be opened more or less in accordance with high vacuum and low vacuum in the couch roll suction box and the shaft and the plug will be moved axially in and out as the stock pressure in the Jordan engine decreases and increases.

4. In a paper making machine including a Jordan having a stock outlet pipe thereon and a couch roll having a suction box and suction leg, the suction in said leg varying in response to variations in the quantity and quality of the stock delivered by said Jordan, the combination of a stock outlet control valve in the stock outlet pipe at the Jordan; an axial air pressure motor having a flexible diaphragm mechanically connected to the stock outlet control valve for opening and closing the same; and a suction pipe leading directly from the suction leg to the axial air pressure motor for flexing the diaphragm thereof and thereby opening and closing the Jordan stock outlet control valve in accordance with variations in suction in the suction leg.

5. In a paper making machine including a Jordan having a stock outlet pipe thereon and acouch roll having a suction box and suction leg, the suction in said leg varying in response to variations in the quantity and quality of the stock delivered by said Jordan, the combination of a stock outlet control valve in the stock outlet pipe at the Jordan; an axial air pressure motor having a flexible diaphragm mechanically connected to the stock outlet control valve for opening and closing the same; a pneumatic converter and recorder; a suction pipe leading from the suction leg to said pneumatic converter and recorder; an air pressure supply pipe leading from a source of air pressure to said pneumatic converter and recorder and an air pressure pipe leading from the pneumatic converter and recorder to said axial air pressure motor for flexing the diaphragm thereof and thereby openin and closing the Jordan stock outlet control valve in accordance with variations in suction in the suction leg converted to variations in air pressure by said pneumatic converter and recorder.

6. In a Jordan having a plug shaft axially slidable therein, the combination of an axial air pressure motor having a flexible diaphragm mechanically connected to said plug shaft for slidably moving the same; a pneumatic converter and recorder; pressure sensitive means connected with v the large end of the Jordan and leading to said pneumatic converter and recorder; an air pressure supply pipe leading from a source of air pressure to said pneumatic converter and recorder, and an air pressure pipe leading from the pneumatic converter and recorder to said axial air pressure motor for flexing the diaphragm thereof and thereby moving said plug shaft in accordance with variations in pressure in said Jordan.

7. In a paper making machine includin a Jordan having a plug shaft axially slidable therein and a stock outlet pipe thereon and a couch roll having a suction box and a suction leg thereon, the suction in said leg varying in response to variations in the quantity and quality of the stock delivered by said Jordan, the combination of a stock outlet control valve in the stock outlet pipe at the Jordan; a first axial air pressure motor having a first flexible diaphragm for opening and closing said stock control outlet valve, a second axial air pressure motor having a second flexible diaphragm for axially sliding said plug shaft relative to said Jordan; a pressure sensitive device connected to the interior of the large end of the Jordan, first pneumatic converter means including a source of air pressure, connecting said suction leg to said first motor for causing said air pressure to flex the first diaphragm in accordance with variations of suction in the suction leg and second pneumatic converter means, including said source of air pressure, connecting said pressure sensitive device to said second motor for causing said air pressure to flex said second diaphragm in accordance with variations in stock pressure within said Jordan.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,686,217 Loman Oct. 2, 1928 1,933,814 Lewellen et a1. Nov. 7, 1933 2,051,202 DeMers Aug. 18, 1936 2,117,800 Harrison et al May 17, 1938 2,156,445 Baxter May 2, 1939 2,487,266 Newell Nov. 8, 1949 

